County Sheriff Candidate Profile: Larry Logston

Saturday

Nov 3, 2012 at 2:00 PM

Political candidates answered questions provided by the Kirksville Daily Express

Hometown KirksvilleEducation A.A. Criminal Justice Degree in Criminal Justice Administration; Over 2,000 hours of continued law enforcement education and training; Adjunct Instructor at Moberly Area Community College Law Enforcement Training Center; Law Enforcement Generalist InstructorEmployment history 2002-2008 – Adair County Sheriff’s Office; 2008-2012 – MO State Probation and Parole; Vice President of the Kirksville School Board; Past Vice President of the Missouri Deputy Sheriff’s Association (MDSA)

What are your budget priorities for the next four years?

I think my experience on the Kirksville School Board speaks for itself. We have a $25 million budget. We've managed that budget very well, professionally and effectively. We need to reduce unnecessary spending and start spending money where we need it greatly and get more bang for our buck. I will look at the budget as a whole and prioritize what is important to the citizens of Adair County. I will put more emphasis on safety over style. In 2009 there was $39,000 spent on uniforms and $2700 spent on training. I will use the underutilized Adair County Detention Facility to its full potential by housing inmates from surrounding counties - not only generating revenue but also strengthening our relationships with surrounding sheriff's offices. As your sheriff, I promise to run the office like a family runs their budget: responsibly and with an eye to the future.

Methamphetamine manufacturing and use remains a destructive problem in northeast Missouri. How will you go about addressing this issue?

As a Deputy Sheriff I have been very successful in the fight against methamphetamine. I will do what I do best and that is form good working relationships with the Kirksville Police Department, Truman State University DPS, Missouri State Highway Patrol, North Missouri Drug Task Force, Adair County Meth Coalition and surrounding county sheriff's. I will implement a community policing program to help spread our eyes and ears into the community. To be successful in addressing this issue you have to have help from the community. I will set up educational programs for the community so they are more aware of the what to look for to provide tips to law enforcement. I will reintroduce the K-9 unit to the sheriff's office.

Managing the Adair County Jail is a large piece of the sheriff's responsibilities. What plans do you have for the jail over the next four years?

First priority is to look at the jail budget and see what can be done differently to make the jail safer for inmates and employees. The jail is getting older so you need to be proactive with maintenance and not let things get beyond repair. get out Use the underutilized Adair County Detention Facility to its full potential by housing inmates from surrounding counties - not only generating revenue but also strengthening our relationships with surrounding sheriff's offices. Inmates from surrounding counties currently are being sent to the jail in Pattonsburg, Mo, and the more inmates being housed in the Adair County Detention Facility will generate more revenue.

What are your plans for attracting and retaining high-quality individuals to serve as deputies within the sheriff's department?

You have to improve the work environment and restore the moral with the current deputies. I promise to work with my deputies and make sure they know we share an obligation to all citizens of Adair County. I will implement a rank structure to increase the chances of retaining quality employees. I will Improve training opportunities for deputies to provide better services. It's important to provide the citizens of Adair County with the best trained deputies possible.

What other priorities do you have for the next four years?

The sheriff's office needs to be more visible and work throughout the county and not just in Kirksville. Kirksville is the best protected city in the county. We need to protect and serve the entire county and one of the main things we need to work on is improved training opportunities for deputy sheriffs. Here are a few of my other priorities. Implement a community policing program to help spread our eyes and ears into the community. Form a citizen advisory committee for more local input into our activities. Lead an effective and professional force with sound fiscal management and common sense. Be responsive to our rural community needs. Improve training opportunities for deputies to provide better service. Reintroduce the K-9 unit to the office so we can stop the rise of dangerous drug use, including methamphetamines. Hire a full-time trained Investigator.